Just two years after arriving as the franchise’s savior, Angel Reese’s time with the Chicago Sky is over. The Bayou Barbie will no longer don the No. 5 for the Sky at the Wintrust after reports confirmed a shock trade.

Sports journalist Taylor Rooks recently confirmed Reese’s trade to the Atlanta Dream in a post on X. “BREAKING: Angel Reese is headed to the Atlanta Dream. Sources tell me the Atlanta Dream and the Chicago Sky have agreed to a trade,” Rooks’ post read.

According to reports, the trade deal includes the Sky’s No. 1 draft pick for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. On the other hand, the Atlanta Dream will receive Reese and a right to swap the No. 2 draft pick in 2028. Clearly, this move suggests that the Sky front office’s decision stems from a commitment to keeping the franchise for the long haul. Additionally, they’ll continue rebuilding the team around players like Kamilla Cardoso and Ariel Atkins.

Given the dismal seasons the Chicago Sky navigated over the last few years, it was a given that the Sky’s front office would be looking to rebuild ahead of the 2026 season. Fresh faces were expected to come in, and rosters were bound to be revamped. But very few could have imagined that the franchise would go so far as to trade off its best player in the process.

It gives off a similar vibe to Elena Delle Donne’s move from the Sky in 2017. Donne moved to the Washington Mystics and subsequently won the WNBA title in 2019. Now it needs to be seen if Reese can create a similar deja vu moment.

After all, Reese’s accolades s at Sky speak for themselves. A two-time WNBA Rebounding leader and Peak Performer of the Year, Reese has been the only silver lining in their grey period in the last two seasons. For Reese, though, the move is a source of elation as she looks to grow with a new franchise.

“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” she said. “I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream.”

While the move was surprising from the Chicago Sky, there were whispers of a cold environment brewing between the Chicago Sky and Angel Reese in the offseason. Speaking in an interview right after the 2025 season, in which Sky missed the postseason for the second consecutive year, Reese made it clear that if her intentions don’t align with the franchise’s, she can explore other options.

“I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me,” Reese had said. “But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can.”

While the trade creates new opportunities, the abrupt end to Reese’s time in Chicago feels like an unfitting conclusion to a story that began with so much promise.

Chicago Sky General Manager Comments on Angel Reese’s Trade

Despite the standoff between Reese and the Chicago Sky of late, there weren’t any solid reports of a trade. But the sudden announcement caused chaos among the fanbase. Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca cleared his side of the story through a press release.

“This trade is designed to achieve roster balance and represents a great opportunity for all parties,” Pagliocca said. “Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky. We are thankful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and we know she will continue to have a big impact on the court and beyond. We wish Angel all the best in her next chapter.”

While the Chicago Sky seeks balance, the deal has given Reese a new opportunity. Firstly, Atlanta Dream’s trajectory in recent years has only gone up. They have advanced to the playoffs for the last three seasons. They have indeed faced first-round defeats on all three occasions. But Chi Barbie might be the lever that can raise their ceiling further.

Notably, Reese will add to Atlanta’s already decorated roster, which features Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard. It suggests that, with this star-studded roster, Reese will consistently push toward the goal of winning the title. Furthermore, with Gray and Howard in the squad, the pressure of scoring will not be on her.

On paper, the trio looks immensely deadly. Moreover, with the free agency talks set to resume, the Atlanta Dream might bring in more star power to their squad. And if the 23-year-old can blend well with this new franchise, the other WNBA teams might have an uphill task ahead of them.